Adjust the oven rack to the lower third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375�F. Grease and flour a large baking sheet.
Sift the dry ingredients (except the brown sugar) into a large bowl. Add the brown sugar, shortening, egg, and buttermilk and beat with an electric mixer until the batter is blended and smooth, about 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in raisins.
Drop the batter by the heaping tablespoonful onto the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle each mound with 1/2 tsp. sugar.
Bake about 15 minutes, or until the buns are golden brown.
Serve warm or at room temperature. Yield 18 Typed in MMFormat by cjhartlin@msn.com ----